Clip-on sunglasses

ABSTRACT

The lens sections of the sunglasses are joined by a spring mechanism. The mechanism includes first and second concentric tubular members. Each member is affixed to the rim of a different one of the lens sections. The members enclose the spring which urges the lens sections toward each other, such that prongs mounted on the rims can engage an eyeglasses frame to mount the sunglasses thereon.

The present invention relates to clip-on sunglasses and moreparticularly to an improved enclosed spring bridge mechanism for clip-onsunglasses that enables the sunglasses to be easily mounted oneyeglasses.

Clip-on sunglasses consist of a metal or plastic frame that carries apair of light attenuating plastic or glass lenses. A mechanism isprovided to removably mount the clip-on sunglasses on the frame ofeyeglasses.

In order to be commercially acceptable, the clip-on sunglasses must belight in weight, reasonably rugged and relatively inexpensive. They mustalso be easy to mount on and remove from eyeglasses. Further, theclip-on sunglasses must mount without damaging the eyeglasses,particularly the lenses.

One common type of mounting mechanism is a clamp that is attached to thebridge of the sunglasses. The clamp typically includes pairs of opposingprongs which are spring-loaded toward each other so as to retain thelenses of the eyeglasses between the prongs. Examples of this clamp-typemechanism are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,575,497 issued Apr. 20, 1971to Leblanc, U.S. Pat. No. 5,164,749 issued Nov. 17, 1992 to Shelton andU.S. Pat. No. Des 350,359 issued Sep. 6, 1994 to Friedman.

However, clamp-type mechanisms have their disadvantages. The prongs mustclamp tightly to the lenses, potentially scratching the lenses. Themechanism may obstruct the view partially. Moreover, the clamp-typemechanisms have several inter-engaging parts which must be fabricatedprecisely and assembled, making the mechanism relatively expensive andsometimes unreliable.

In order to overcome the drawbacks of the clamp-type mechanisms, amechanism was developed for mounting clip-on sunglasses that does notcontact or clamp the lenses of the eyeglasses and therefore cannotscratch them. This type of mechanism utilizes one or more sets ofexposed spring-loaded prongs. The prongs are movably or flexibly mountedsuch that they can be moved against a spring force, for insertionbetween spaced portions of the eyeglasses frame. The spring force causesthe prongs to frictionally engage the eyeglasses frame. Because theprongs only engage the frame, the lenses of the eyeglasses cannot bescratched. An example of such a mechanism is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,953,096 entitled “Universal Center Bridge Mounting Mechanism forClip-On Sunglasses ” issued to me on Sep. 14, 1999.

Another type of clip-on sunglasses, such as is disclosed in LockwoodU.S. Pat. No. 2,926,563, consists of mirror image frame sections, eachof which consists of a lens and a bridge element. The bridge elementsare connected together by a bridge mechanism that includes an exposedmetal coil spring. The mechanism permits the frame sections to move awayfrom each other, against the force of the spring. Each frame section, atits outer extremity, is provided with a set (typically two or three) ofeyeglasses frame engaging prongs protruding from the plane of the lenssections. When the frame sections are moved away from each other,against the force of the spring, the eyeglasses frame can be insertedbetween the prongs. Releasing the frame sections permits the spring tomove frame sections back toward each other, such that the eyeglassesframe is securely retained between the prongs.

One problem inherent in the Lockwood type spring bridge mechanism isthat the coil spring is exposed. Aside from being unsightly, this isundesirable because bits of solid debris and other particulate foreignmatter can lodge between the coils and jam the mechanism or distort thespring. Liquid, such as rain or sweat, can enter the mechanism resultingin rusting or deterioration of the parts. Further, the skin, hair andeyebrows of the user are not protected from the exposed spring.

I therefore developed an improved spring bridge mechanism that overcomesthe exposed spring problem by enclosing the coil spring within a slendertubular enclosure. The enclosure isolates the spring from the skin andhair of the wearer and prevents debris and liquids from reaching thespring.

The enclosure serves the additional purpose of keeping the framesections in the proper plane as they are moved. This is achieved by aslot in the enclosure which cooperates with a protrusion to maintain theframe sections in the same plane. The interior wall of the enclosurealso provides an end surface for the spring to abut.

Aside from isolating the spring from the environment, the enclosureenhances the appearance of the clip-on sunglasses by hiding theunsightly spring. Preferably, the enclosure is made of the same materialand finish as the bridge elements and frame, resulting in a mechanismwhich is much less conspicuous than an exposed spring.

I received U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,234,628 and 6,302,538, issued May 22, 2001and Oct. 16, 2001, respectively, for my enclosed spring bridgemechanism. The clip-on sunglasses disclosed in those patents, as well asthe clip-on sunglasses disclosed in Lockwood, require sets of protrudingprongs mounted on opposite sides of the lens sections of the sunglassesto receive the eyeglasses frame. However, the prongs on the lenssections are unsightly and because the prongs must protrude out of theplane of the sunglasses, they may catch on other objects and make itdifficult to store the sunglasses.

The need for protruding prongs on clip-on sunglasses can be avoided byproviding spaced engaging parts on the eyeglasses frame and mounting thesunglasses by moving the lens retaining frame sections of the sunglassestoward each other and inserting the sunglasses between the engagingparts on the frame of the eyeglasses. That structure is disclosed in myco-pending application Ser. No. 10/273533, filed Oct. 21, 2002 andentitled “Eyeglasses and Clip-On Sunglasses Therefor.”

I am aware of U.S. Pat. No. 5,801,804, issued Sep. 1, 1998 to RobertPennise, entitled “Linearly Adjustable Sunglasses ” that disclosesclip-on sunglasses that do not require protruding prongs. In Pennise,the lens sections of the sunglasses are moved toward each other in orderto mount the sunglasses, as in my co-pending application Ser. No.10/273,533. However, Pennise's clip-on sunglasses are designed to mountbetween the temple pieces of the eyeglasses frame, and hence behind thelenses of the eyeglasses, making the sunglasses uncomfortable to wearand hence impractical. Moreover, Pennise's sunglasses require a secondbridge part, spaced from the spring bridge, to maintain the lenses inthe same plane.

Although the clip-on sun glasses structure disclosed in my co-pendingapplication Ser. No. 10/273533 noted above works well, it requiresspecially fabricated eyeglasses, which could be considered to be adrawback. I have therefore invented improved clip-on sunglasses thatfunction in a manner similar to the structure disclosed in U.S. Pat.Nos. 6,234,628 and 6,302,538, in that specially fabricated eyeglassesare not required and the frame sections are moved apart for mounting.However, the improved clip-on sunglasses have the spring bridgemechanism located between and directly connected to the frame sections,similar to that disclosed in my co-pending application Ser. No.10/273533, such that the bridge elements are eliminated, resulting in asimpler, more aesthetically pleasing structure.

It is, therefore, a prime object of the present invention to provideimproved clip-on sunglasses with an enclosed spring bridge mechanismattached directly to and between the lens sections, that does notrequire specially fabricated eyeglasses.

It is another object of the present invention to provide improvedclip-on sunglasses with an enclosed spring bridge mechanism that issimple and aesthetically pleasing.

In accordance with the present invention, clip-on sunglasses is providedincluding first and second sections. Each of the sections includes alens, a rim at least partially surrounding the lens and an eyeglassesengaging prong mounted to the rim. Means for connecting the first andsecond sections for movement between a proximate position and a remoteposition are provided. The connecting means includes a first tubularmember connected to the rim of the first section, a second tubularmember connected to the rim of the second section and spring means forurging the sections toward the proximate position.

The first tubular member is received within the second tubular member.The spring means is at least partially received within the first tubularmember.

Means are provided for preventing relative rotation between the tubularelements. The rotation preventing means includes a protrusion on one ofthe tubular members and a protrusion receiving slot in the other member.The slot is elongated in the direction of movement of the sections.

The spring means includes a spring with first and second ends. The firstspring end is fixed to the rim of the first section. The second springend is fixed to the rim of the second section.

Preferably, a second eyeglass engaging prong is located on each of thesections. The second prong is spaced from the first prong. Theconnecting means forms the bridge of the sunglasses. It is situatedbetween the first and the second sections.

To these and to such other objects which may hereinafter appear, thepresent invention relates to improved clip-on sunglasses, as set forthin detail in the following specification and recited in the annexedclaims, taken together with the accompanying drawings, wherein likenumerals refer to like parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view of the clip-on sunglasses of thepresent invention, showing the lens sections in the proximate position;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the clip-on sunglasses of thepresent invention, showing the lens sections in the remote position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the bridge of the presentinvention, in the proximate position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the bridge of the presentinvention, in the remote position; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the bridge, taken aloneline 5—5 of FIG. 4.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the clip-on sunglasses of the presentinvention, generally designated A, include mirror image lens sections10, 12 connected together by a spring mechanism, generally designated14, located between the lens sections, which forms the bridge of thesunglasses.

Section 10 includes a glass or plastic light attenuating lens 16 atleast partially enclosed by a metal or plastic rim 20. Generally “L ”shaped eyeglasses engaging prongs 24, 26 are mounted on and extend fromspaced locations on rim 20.

Section 12 includes a glass or plastic lens 18 at least partiallyenclosed by a rim 22. Rim 22 has generally “L ” shaped eyeglassesengaging prongs 28, 30 mounted on and extending from spaced locations onrim 22.

Sections 10, 12 are moveable between a normal, proximate position, asseen in FIG. 1, and a remote position, as seen in FIG. 2. This ispossible because of spring mechanism 14.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate the structure of mechanism 14. Mechanism 14includes an outer tubular member 32, one end (right as seen in thedrawings) of which is fixed to rim 20, and an inner tubular member 34,one end (left as seen in the drawings) of which is fixed to rim 22.

The diameter of member 32 is larger than the diameter of member 34, asseen in FIG. 5, such that member 34 can be received within member 32. Aspring 36 is received within inner tubular member 34. The ends of spring36 are fixed to rims 20 and 22, respectively.

As lens sections 10 and 12 are moved apart, members 32, 34 move from therelative position shown in FIG. 3 to the relative position shown on FIG.4, stretching spring 36. Spring 36 urges the sections toward theproximate position, shown in FIG. 3.

Means are provided for preventing relative rotation between members 32and 34 such that the lenses 16, 18 remain in the same plane, as the lenssections move. This means comprises a protrusion 40 extending above thesurface of member 34 and a protrusion receiving slot 38 in member 32.Slot 38 is elongated in the direction of the axis of the members andhence in the direction of movement of the sections 10, 12. Thisprotrusion/slot combination limits the distance that the sections can bepulled apart and one member from rotating relative to the other member.

In operation, the lens sections 10, 12 of the clip-on sunglasses arepulled apart, stretching spring 36, as protrusion 40 moves along slot 38from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 4.Sunglasses A are placed adjacent to the front of the eyeglasses to whichthey are to be mounted, with the eyeglasses frame situated between theprong sets 24, 26 and 28, 30. The lens sections are then released, suchthat the spring urges the sections to move toward to proximate position,causing the prongs to engage the eyeglasses frame.

It will now be appreciated that the present invention relates toimproved clip-on sunglasses which utilizes an enclosed spring mechanismsituated between the lens sections. The mechanism includes concentrichollow tubular members, respectively connected to the rims of thelenses, which fully enclose the spring. The mechanism is mechanicallysimple and aesthetically pleasing.

While only a single preferred embodiment of the present invention isdisclosed herein for purposes of illustration, it is obvious that manyvariations and modifications could be made thereto. It is intended tocover all of these variations and modifications which fall within thescope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims.

I claim:
 1. Clip-on sunglasses comprising first and second sections eachcomprising a lens, a rim at least partially surrounding said lens and aneyeglass engaging prong mounted to said rim, and means for connectingsaid first and second sections for movement between a proximate positionand a remote position, said connecting means comprising a first tubularmember connected to said rim of said first section, a second tubularmember connected to the rim of said second section, and spring means forurging said sections toward said proximate position, said spring meanscomprising a first end connected to the rim of said first section and asecond end connected to the rim of said second section.
 2. Thesunglasses of claim 1 wherein said first tubular member is receivedwithin said second tubular member.
 3. The sunglasses of claim 1 whereinsaid spring means is at least partially received within said firsttubular member.
 4. The sunglasses of claim 1 further comprising meansfor preventing relative rotation between said tubular members.
 5. Thesunglasses of claim 4 wherein said rotation preventing means comprises aprotrusion on one of said tubular members and a slot in the other ofsaid tubular members.
 6. The sunglasses of claim 5 wherein said slot iselongated in the direction of said movement of said sections.
 7. Thesunglasses of claim 1 wherein said spring means comprises a spring withfirst and second ends, said first spring end being fixed to the rim ofsaid first section and said second spring end being fixed to the rim ofsaid second section.
 8. The sunglasses of claim 1 further comprising asecond prong located on each of said sections.
 9. The sunglasses ofclaim 1 wherein said connecting means comprises the bridge of saidsunglasses.
 10. The sunglasses of claim 1 wherein said connecting meansis situated between said first and said second sections.
 11. Clip-onsunglasses comprising first and second sections each comprising a lens,a rim at least partially surrounding said lens and first and secondeyeglasses engaging prongs mounted at spaced locations to said rim, andmeans for connecting said first and second sections for movement betweena proximate position and a remote position, said connecting meanscomprising a first member connected to said first section, a secondmember connected to said section, said first member being telescopicallyreceived within said second member and spring means operably interposedbetween said sections for urging said sections toward said proximateposition, said connecting means being situated on a line which extendsbetween said first and second prongs of each of said sections,respectively.
 12. The sunglasses of claim 11 further comprising meansfor preventing relative rotation between said sections.
 13. Thesunglasses of claim 12 wherein said rotation preventing means comprisesa protrusion on one of said members and a slot in the other of saidmembers.
 14. The sunglasses of claim 13 wherein said slot is elongatedin the direction of said movement of said sections.
 15. The sunglassesof claim 11 wherein said spring means comprises a spring with first andsecond ends, said first spring end being fixed to the rim of said firstsection and said second spring end being fixed to the rim of said secondsection.
 16. The sunglasses of claim 11 wherein said connecting meanscomprises the bridge of said sunglasses.
 17. The sunglasses of claim 11wherein said connecting means is situated between said first and saidsecond sections.
 18. Clip-on sunglasses comprising first and second lenssections, each of said sections having an eyeglass engaging prong, a topedge, a bottom edge, and a portion situated between the top edge and thebottom edge of the section, spring means for permitting relativemovement of said sections between a proximate position and a remoteposition, and means for retaining said sections within a plane as theymove between said positions, said movement permitting means and saidretaining means comprising a single means for connecting said sections,said single connecting means extending between said portion of saidfirst section and said portion of said second section.
 19. Thesunglasses of claim 18 wherein said single connecting means comprisesfirst and second telescoping members and spring means operably connectedbetween said members.
 20. The sunglasses of claim 19 wherein said firstmember is received within said second member.
 21. The sunglasses ofclaim 20 wherein said spring means is at least partially received withinsaid first member.
 22. The sunglasses of claim 19 wherein said retainingmeans comprises a protrusion on one of said members and a slot in theother of said members.
 23. The sunglasses of claim 19 wherein saidspring means comprises a spring with first and second ends, said firstspring end being fixed to said first section and said second spring endbeing fixed to said second section.